My heart exults in the Lord;
    my horn is exalted in the Lord.
My mouth derides my enemies,
    because I rejoice in your salvation.

There is none holy like the Lord:
    for there is none besides you;
    there is no rock like our God.
1 Samuel 2:1-2 English Standard Version

Metaphors can be confusing. In one sense, thinking of God as a rock makes Him no different than any other idol or man-made god. Rocks are inanimate, unfeeling, and don’t care about anything around them. Why would anyone “exult” or “rejoice” in that?

This is a picture of a sandstone formation at Indian Paint Mines in Calhan. The rock there is not very hard; in fact, sandstone wears away easily, as rock goes. There is more solid stone in the Rocky Mountains. Just up the highway there are granite cliffs of very hard rock. But even granite, or diamonds, cannot compare to what Hannah writes in her song in 1 Samuel about God.

She is praising Him for hearing her prayer and answering her favorably. So we know the metaphor is not about an inanimate or uncaring figure. In fact God shows Himself to be a softie here. Childless Hannah cries out to Him and He answers with a son.

I can count on God. He is permanent, more permanent than rock. He put the rocks there, the sandstone that we can see wearing away before our eyes as well as the granite that seems to last forever. He will outlast the very earth and sun. He shows Himself here as One who cares for Hannah, and He surely cares for you and I too.

Lord, may we see You as the strong, permanent One that you are, but also not forget that You care about the details of our lives.

Photo and text copyright David Brukiewa